It seems my camera bag evolves every few months. One day, I am carrying around a 20mm lens for its night sky capabilities. A few months later, I’m not even sure where I stored the lens at home. Same goes for a whole myriad of accessories that come and go. There’s a microphone I’ve carried for years despite rarely using it. There’s a shutter release I swear by, except I often opt to simply use the 2 sec self-timer rather than fish it out for a quick shot.
Basically, my camera bag is a living, breathing entity that changes over time. One constant is that I’m always adding more than I remove; yet it still miraculously makes it onto airplanes as carry on.
Here are five new pieces of Gear that have recently found their way into my daily arsenal.
Five New Pieces of Camera Gear
Phantom Glass – Every Nikon dSLR I have ever owned had a plastic screen protector, so I was a touch surprised when the D750 didn’t include one. I finally found a protection solution, thanks to Phantom Glass. It’s barely noticeable on the back of my LCD, but the clear layer protects my screen from scratches and makes it more durable for my clumsy moments.
Peak Design Slide Strap – Until recently, I was the guy still using factory Nikon camera straps. I knew they weren’t comfortable, but I just didn’t care. I rarely carry my camera on my shoulder or around my neck anyway.
But when Peak Design sent me their new Lassen Slide strap, I decided to give it a try. The result is a revelation. It’s now more comfortable to carry my camera, so it’s often around my neck rather than hidden in my backpack. That’s landed me some stunning images, especially as I walked around Vienna that I simply wouldn’t have photographed if my camera was packed away.
I also love how quickly I can remove the strap – it’s just two quick connections – that makes for sharper images when I am using a tripod in windy situations.
It turns out the Slide strap is heaps better than the factory straps I’ve been using for years.
Peak Design Shell – Tucked into the package with the slide strap was a new product from Peak Design. It’s called a shell and it’s essentially a raincoat for a camera.
My first glance left me disappointed. It doesn’t have a clear screen like many rain covers, so when it’s on the camera it makes changing the settings difficult. It’s also a tight fit over my Nikon D750 and 24-70 lens.
But then I found myself shooting a timelapse in the pouring rain and the Shell proved it’s worth immediately. I left my camera outside for thirty minutes and it was still bone dry. I’ll take that over ease of use in any rainstorm
Peak Design Capture Pro – I have owned the Capture Pro for ages; however, I’ve rarely used it because I fell uncomfortable leaving my camera out and exposed while hiking. Essentially, if the camera can’t live in my hands or on my shoulder, I usually pack it away.
But thanks to the awesome protection of the Shell, I can now use the Capture Pro with more confidence. My camera won’t get unnecessarily wet or dirty now, so the Capture Pro now has a permanent home on my shoulder.
Moment iPhone Lenses – When I visited Eddie Bauer headquarters to kickoff the #LiveYourAdventure campaign, I found an awesome swag pack waiting for me.
Two of the items I’ve used the most are two tiny Moment iPhone lenses. The one I use the most is a 2X wide angle, which doubles what I can fit into a single iPhone image or snapchat. The second lens, a 60mm equivalent telephoto, is great for portraits. The reason I love these two lenses is they’re so easy to use. I often feel stressed and overworked, which sometimes leads to less creative photography. These two lenses make it easy to simply have fun with a camera, which is often a quick way to be more creative.
So before you click away, make sure to add me on Snapchat! It’s jeff-bartlett!
What’s your latest camera bag addition? Make sure to let me know in the comments!
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